''At the start, the pressure is quite big. But now I think I've overcome it a bit, over time I think I've got more comfortable,'' the now 17-year-old Badhwar said.

''But it's something you never forget. They left all of their family behind, we don't have any family connections in Australia. So for them to move halfway across the world for me and golf, is something that stays very close to my heart.''

Viraat's successes, on and off the course, since arriving in Australia seem to vindicate how his parents knew what they were doing when they enrolled their son at Kelvin Grove State College - renowned for its elite golf program - and settled in Brisbane.

It also proves Viraat need not have been so worried. When he left Delhi, Badhwar was the No. 1-ranked junior golfer in India.

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Five years later, he is now the No. 1 junior in Australia, and last year was crowned World Junior champion in Japan.

''Golf is not very big in India,'' Badhwar said. ''There are not a lot of golf courses, so it's basically reserved for people in that middle or upper class,'' he said.

''I was fortunate enough to live in a place where I had access to three or four golf courses within maybe a one-hour drive from me, which is not bad for India.''

But golf is only the first string to the Badhwar bow.

Despite being a year younger than the rest of his graduating class, Viraat achieved an OP1 for his end-of-year 12 studies, which is the equivalent of a 98 or higher VCE Enter score - putting him in the top 1 per cent of students in Queensland.

''Academics has always been a big priority in the family, it's almost at the same level as my golf in terms of the importance,'' Badhwar said.

''To a certain extent I put the golf to one side last year so I could focus [on my studies].''

The son of an accountant, his intelligence and humility shines through.

He also says he owes a lot to his coach - Queensland-based Garry Calder.

Badhwar's status as one of the top golfing prospects in his adopted country were underlined at Royal Melbourne Golf Club last week when he became the youngest player to win the Australian Master of the Amateurs.

It was only two days after AMOTA chairman Jeff Kennett presented him with the green jacket that Badhwar realised the significance of his first major amateur win and what it could mean as a stepping stone to his dream.

That was when one of the event's other former competitors - now-professional American Russell Henley - pocketed $1 million last Sunday for winning his first US PGA Tour event in Hawaii.

For all his academic potential, earning dollars for his work on the fairways is still the preferred option - and there are only precious few Indian-born golfers doing so on the major international tours.

Badhwar is in Melbourne to compete in the Australian Amateur tournament at the Commonwealth and Woodlands golf clubs, where he will begin the second round on Thursday at three-under and within striking distance of the leaders.